Chapter 116: Public opinion frenzy

Chen Nuo didn't know what the Warner people said to the police on the phone. In short, those two police officers instantly let go of their posture of facing a great enemy. After a simple check and warning, they actually let them go.

But he wasn't too surprised. After all, that's Warner. Perhaps for a Warner Bros. vice president like Michael Slane, this little thing doesn't even count as a thing.

"Thank you, Michael. Consider me owing you one."

"Chen, $500,000, plus a 0.3% commission, and we are even."

"This..."

A hesitant voice came from the receiver. Michael Slane said: "Chen, this is what you said yourself, you owe me one."

Chen Nuo didn't speak. Michael Slane said again: "Chen, you should be content. You are still so young and can get a million-level salary in Hollywood. Think about it, this is *Batman 2*! Think about the actors collaborating with you: Christian Bale, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, and even Morgan Freeman. Chen, if I were you, I wouldn't hesitate for a second. Just by appearing for one second in this film, your market value will multiply."

Truly worthy of being a Warner vice president, simply an orator. If I don't agree now, I'm overacting. He sighed deeply, with a bit of resentment and unwillingness: "Michael, now we are even."

Michael Slane smiled satisfactorily: "OK, Chen, we are even."

When Chen Nuo told Qi Yuntian his decision, he didn't say anything and agreed immediately.

After Chen Nuo hung up the phone, he felt Qi Yuntian's current state was very good. The closer he got to the era he was reborn from, the more things he remembered. If Qi Yuntian could maintain this attitude, saving him the process of explaining, it could really save a lot of time and energy.

Chen Nuo sat in the passenger seat and fell into thought, but Liu Xiaoli, who was driving, couldn't suppress her curiosity.

She had been in the US for several years, but this was the first time she had provoked the police. Now looking back, she was very scared. Fortunately, the person talking to Chen Nuo on the phone settled the matter in a few words.

Who exactly is he negotiating cooperation with? This kid is really not simple. It seems I have to coax him again.

With her mentality shifted, Liu Xiaoli began to fully exert her skills in dealing with people.

She coughed lightly and said: "Little Chen, thank you so much. Madam was really confused just now and lost her head. If it weren't for you, this time would have been really miserable. Xixi having a friend like you is truly her blessing."

Speaking of this, Chen Nuo actually didn't quite understand.

Isn't she American? Hasn't she been in the US for several years? Why doesn't she know anything?

Could it be that she is really like some rumors say, married a lawyer to mix for nationality, because her English was poor, so she was a housewife for five years, and when she learned the language, she divorced and brought Liu Yifei back to China, so she didn't even understand such basic common sense?

However, for him, it could be considered a blessing in disguise. Taking advantage of this matter, he didn't let that old fox Michael Slane suspect anything, and smoothly negotiated the salary.

Chen Nuo smiled falsely: "Hehe, it's okay, Madam."

Liu Xiaoli felt Chen Nuo's dissatisfaction. Her mind turned, and she immediately found a topic: "By the way, Little Chen, *The Return of the Condor Heroes* is about to air, do you know?"

Chen Nuo was in a trance. Too many things had happened during this period. This drama, which was finished only four months ago, felt like a long time ago to him. "I don't know."

Liu Xiaoli smiled: "I heard it from someone too. It is said that Director Zhang Jizhong was in a hurry this time and almost drove the post-production people crazy. He only used three months to cut out a version for review. But before it even passed the review, many TV stations came to ask for the price. Guess, after three rounds of bidding a few days ago, which TV station finally bought the premiere rights?"

Chen Nuo looked at Liu Xiaoli's smiling appearance and didn't understand: "Which one?"

"Sichuan TV Film Channel."

Chen Nuo was surprised: "Ah?"

Liu Xiaoli smiled: "Right, it's your hometown's TV station, Sichuan TV Film Channel. I haven't heard of them grabbing the premiere rights of any drama before. In the end, they competed with Zhejiang Education Technology Channel and Shandong TV. Guess how much one episode sold for?"

"How much?"

"110,000 per episode." Liu Xiaoli shook her head and said: "It made Director Zhang and the others very happy. Afterward, the first-round broadcast rights also sold very well, selling to a total of ten TV stations, including Beijing TV, Hebei TV, Shanxi TV, and even Hong Kong TVB and Taiwan CTV all came to buy. It is said that Hong Kong and Taiwan originally only wanted to buy the second-round broadcast rights, but because your *Perhaps Love* sold well there, they all wanted to strike while the iron is hot and earn a wave of ratings."

Even my *Perhaps Love*—Liu Xiaoli boasted fiercely, making Chen Nuo laugh.

Qi Yuntian had also told him that he indeed had some fame in Hong Kong and Taiwan, but to say that because of this, TV stations bought the first-round broadcast rights for him... Chen Nuo hadn't inflated to that extent.

Seeing Chen Nuo's expression, Liu Xiaoli knew he didn't believe it. Indeed, she heard these things from hearsay, and no one really knew the specifics. This kid is too hard to fool.

Liu Xiaoli slandered in her heart, but on the surface, she smiled: "Little Chen, really, many people say so, it must be correct. You are really famous now. Look at your fans, the number is more than many male stars."

Chen Nuo *hehe*d: "Is that so?"

He still didn't believe what Liu Xiaoli said.

Although Qi Yuntian told him he had a fan organization called "Nomi." Just like some corn, and asked if he wanted to manage it.

Chen Nuo denied it the first time.

"Really. Hey, Little Chen, to be honest, there aren't many young male actors who are more famous than you now. Let me count for you, the first one, Zhou Yumin, the second one, Nicholas Tse, the third one, Edison Chen, the fourth one, Chen Kun, the fifth one, Shawn Yue, the sixth one... that Huang something, who is still sick and hasn't recovered, basically about to retire. You, now in the entertainment circle of the two shores and three places, you are the sixth."

Chen Nuo endured it, but still couldn't help it: "Madam, you mean I am ranked number...?"

Liu Xiaoli couldn't help but sneer when she heard it. It seems this path was taken correctly. She smiled and nodded: "Right, Little Chen, you are the sixth."

Chen Nuo took a deep breath and said nothing.

Liu Xiaoli continued to smile: "Little Chen, which company are you signing with this time? Can you say?"

Liu Xiaoli is Liu Xiaoli, Liu Yifei is Liu Yifei. Chen Nuo had actually always distinguished them very clearly.

He could not guard against Liu Yifei because he told her about the Ang Lee matter last time, and until now, he hadn't heard a whisper about it outside.

But Liu Xiaoli?

Tell Liu Xiaoli he is negotiating a contract with Warner?

Then he might as well take a megaphone and shout on the street.

Not to mention you just said I was the sixth a second ago.

"Sorry, Madam, this matter cannot be said."

Liu Xiaoli wasn't embarrassed either. She actually knew that Chen Nuo probably wouldn't tell her, just asking to try her luck. She smiled again: "It must be a big production, congratulations, Little Chen."

Chatting with Liu Xiaoli like this, after a while, they arrived at the hotel. Looking back at Liu Yifei, who hadn't woken up in the back seat, Chen Nuo got out of the car.

This mother of hers is truly stupid but thinks she's smart. No wonder some people scolded her for some operations that made people feel suffocated in later generations.

He didn't know what operations Liu Yifei's fans were talking about more than ten years later, and he really didn't care about these things, but now Chen Nuo could only silently wish Liu Yifei good luck in his heart and say a word of take care.

Qi Yuntian argued with the people in Warner's legal department for three whole days, making Chen Nuo and the others pay an extra $10,000 in legal fees!

According to Qi Yuntian, this time he saw how Hollywood giants eat small shrimp.

Originally thought that negotiating with Michael Slane would be like negotiating with Peter Chan or Zhang Jizhong, where both sides could sit down, look at the contract politely, sign it, shake hands, and say happy cooperation.

It turned out to be daydreaming.

A supervisor actually came out from Warner's side and started to pull on the payment time, saying that it would be paid off in three installments within two years after the box office settlement.

I'll wait for your sister's two years.

Qi Yuntian slapped the table on the spot.

Afterward, threats, mutual scolding, compromise, and then slapping the table, threats, mutual scolding, compromise again.

In three days, this process was repeated I don't know how many times, and finally, a result was negotiated.

From the date of box office settlement, 60% will be paid within one week, the remaining 30% will be paid off within one month, and the final 10% will be paid within one year.

There is no way, this is the virtue of the Big Six.

They have to scrape a layer of oil off a mosquito's leg. Although they won't necessarily default on the debt, this spirit of taking advantage of every little bit is truly admirable for its meticulousness.

Finally, when Chen Nuo held the fountain pen and wrote his big name on the contract, the time had already reached January 21, 2006, one week before the Chinese New Year.

But he still couldn't leave, because Christopher Nolan had returned to the UK before, and after learning that their contract was signed, he requested to wait for him for one day, and he would fly over from the UK to meet him.

Chen Nuo could only stay and wait for Nolan.

Chen Nuo thought a lot about what Nolan wanted to say to him, but he didn't expect that Nolan didn't come alone. Along with him were two other white men. One was a fat man with a big beard, and the other was a thin, tall man who was a bit effeminate.

After the introduction, Chen Nuo learned that the big beard was their main makeup artist for *The Dark Knight*, a Spaniard named John Caglione.

The thin, tall man was named Lindy Hemming, a Frenchman, and was their chief stylist for this drama.

After both sides sat down and exchanged pleasantries, Christopher Nolan asked in his London-accented English: "Chen, how much do you weigh now?"

Chen Nuo said in English: "71 kilograms, which is... over 150 pounds."

Christopher nodded: "Chen, after discussion, we hope you can gain 20-25 pounds before filming starts."

One pound is about equal to a little less than 1 jin, which means Nolan wants him to gain about 20 jin.

Chen Nuo's current weight, for his height of 180, belongs to being slightly thin. Although there are no piled-up muscles, the lines are distinct and concave and convex.

If he gains 20 jin, it will be different.

But Chen Nuo didn't hesitate at all and nodded: "Okay."

Nolan immediately smiled and asked: "Chen, don't you ask for the reason?"

Chen Nuo said: "I know it's because of the Joker."

Nolan nodded and said: "That's right, it's because of the Joker. I took the video tape of your audition that day back to the UK. These past few days, the three of us have been studying your makeup. We unanimously believe that this is a very groundbreaking Joker image. It brought the Joker from comics, stage plays, and circuses to our side, making the Joker a realistic person who might exist around us. However, there are also some problems."

John Caglione continued on the side: "Chen, from the perspective of a makeup artist, I saw that you abandoned those detailed and sharp lines in the past Joker makeup. You made it broken, blurry, and real. This is truly amazing. But you are too young and too thin right now."

"When I do your makeup in the future, I will definitely need you to actively distort your cheeks or raise your eyebrows to create wrinkles, and I will also use one hand to rub your eye corners to create crow's feet. But the premise of all this is that you need more fat on your face, so that the texture of the skin can be shown."

Lindy Hemming also followed up at this time: "Chen, your styling also needs to change. The Joker in the play is about 30 years old, which is a huge gap from your current age. You don't have the body type that a 30-year-old man has. For example, a protruding little belly, for example, a fat butt, for example, a pair of thick thighs. In the video, after you put on the Joker's red suit, the feeling you give me is more like a personalized young hippie than a grotesque middle-aged man."

After the three finished speaking, they were quiet for a while, giving Chen Nuo a little time to think.

Afterward, Nolan summarized: "Chen, this is the reason why I asked you to gain weight. Our start time is in mid-May, and your time to join the group should be in the latter part of the month. There are still 4 months from now. I hope you can gain weight to the target weight before joining the group, but don't do it at the cost of damaging your health."

Actually, even if they didn't say so much, Chen Nuo wouldn't object. After hearing these explanations, he immediately said: "Okay, Director, I have no problem."

The three of Nolan looked at each other and suddenly laughed together.

Nolan explained: "We didn't expect that the process of convincing you would be so easy, Chen. I originally thought you would care more about your appearance. Now it seems you have saved us a lot of trouble."

Chen Nuo didn't laugh. He said very seriously: "Director, because I really want to play this role well. So if there is anything else I need to do, just tell me."

Nolan's expression became more pleasant, and he said: "I do have a few more requirements. First, read the script thoroughly. But I am not worried about this aspect, because I now believe in your professionalism. Then, the second point, you indeed contributed a wonderful performance in the audition that day, which ultimately won you this role. However, there is actually a subtle difference between the Joker you performed and the final effect I want."

"Director, please speak."

Chen Nuo's attitude was very upright.

The Joker he performed at that time was transformed from Jeremy. If he couldn't meet the requirements of perfectionist Christopher Nolan because of this, it wouldn't surprise him at all.

"You are too sharp. No, it can't be said to be sharp, but your performance style still reminds people of Nicholson's interpretation in 1989. Like him, you both interpreted the Joker as an evil monster. But in my movie, I don't hope he is a monster. I hope the Joker you finally interpret is as real as the makeup you created."

"I hope the Joker is not a demon king from hell or some naturally perverted freak. No matter how crazy, how unreasonable, and how evil he looks on the surface, remember, he might be a patient with multiple personality disorder, or he might be psychologically twisted and manic because of some childhood trauma, but he is always a human. All the evil things he does should be things that humans can do."

"I hope the Joker you perform is transformed from everyone living around us." Saying this, Nolan took out a notebook from his briefcase. The cover was dark coffee-colored leather, and in the center of the cover, there was a small golden lock. The notebook didn't look new; it was a bit simple and ancient.

Nolan said solemnly: "Chen, to help you understand the character, I picked out a notebook for you from a second-hand market in the UK. I named it *Joker's Diary*. I hope you can fill it before joining the group."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 117 =====